The Hershey Co. is increasing its wholesale prices across the majority of its U.S., Puerto Rico and export portfolio. 

The weighted average price increase will be about 8 percent across the company's instant consumable, multi-pack, packaged candy and grocery lines. The increase went into effect Tuesday.

The increases are a result of Hershey’s higher input costs, including more expensive raw materials, packaging, fuel, utilities and transportation, which the company expects to incur in the future.

“Over the last year, key input costs have been volatile and remain at levels that are above historical averages,” says Michele G. Buck, president, North America, The Hershey Co. “Commodity spot prices for ingredients such as cocoa, dairy and nuts have increased meaningfully since the beginning of the year. Given these trends, we expect significant commodity cost increases in 2015.”

He says that during the transition period, Hershey will support its brands with more merchandising, programming, advertising and innovation.

Customers who buy directly from Hershey will have an opportunity to purchase transitional amounts of product at price points prior to the announcement during a four-week period that lasts until Aug.12, 2014.

The company does not expect seasonal net price realization until Halloween 2015. Given this timing, the company does not expect yesterday's announcement to have a material impact on its financial results in 2014. Therefore, the expectation is that the majority of the financial benefit from this pricing action will impact earnings in 2015.

Due to expected volume elasticity on everyday take-home items and instant consumable products, as well as year-to-date U.S. channel mix headwinds, the company expects full-year 2014 net sales growth to be around the low end of its long-term 5- to 7- percent target, including the impact of foreign currency exchange rates.

Additionally, the company expects commodity costs, primarily dairy, to be greater than its previous estimate, resulting in adjusted gross margin that’s slightly down versus last year.

Therefore, the company anticipates 2014 adjusted earnings per share-diluted growth to be around the low end of its long-term target of 9 to 11 percent.

While preliminary, for the second quarter, which ended June 29, 2014, the company expects net sales and adjusted earnings per share-diluted to be relatively in line with its forecast.

Specifically, second-quarter net sales are expected to increase around 4.5 percent, including an approximate 0.75 point headwind related to foreign currency exchange rates, resulting in adjusted earnings per share-diluted in the $0.75 to $0.77 range. Preliminary reported earnings per share-diluted for the second quarter is estimated to be in the $0.74 to $0.76 range.